Iowa City is located on the banks of the Iowa River in the state of Iowa and it is a UNESCO city of literature. The city has a population of 75,130 and about 10.5% of residents are aged 65 and over. Seniors in the city have access to a range of excellent healthcare facilities at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, which are nationally ranked in four specialties by USN rankings. The average monthly cost of nursing home care in Iowa City is $6,859 according to the Genworth Cost of Care Survey 2020, which is almost $1,000 less than the national average of $7,756.
In a nursing home, care and support are provided 24/7 by registered nurses. This type of care is best suited to seniors with chronic illnesses and those who are very frail and require constant medical assistance. Nursing home care is generally an expensive option and those who don’t require such a high level of care may want to look at alternative care options such as assisted living or home care services.
This guide explains the average costs of nursing home care in Iowa City and surrounding areas as well as alternative options.
Directory of Nursing Homes in Iowa City, IA
My dad spent three weeks in the Mercy Hospital stroke recovery while he was still in there. It was just a rehab facility, and it was all right. Most of the staff that worked there actually lived in o
… (read more)
My dad spent three weeks in the Mercy Hospital stroke recovery while he was still in there. It was just a rehab facility, and it was all right. Most of the staff that worked there actually lived in our community, so we knew them personally.
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My dad spent three weeks in the Mercy Hospital stroke recovery while he was still in there. It was just a rehab facility, and it was all right. Most of the staff that worked there actually lived in o
… (read more)
My dad spent three weeks in the Mercy Hospital stroke recovery while he was still in there. It was just a rehab facility, and it was all right. Most of the staff that worked there actually lived in our community, so we knew them personally.
(read less)
Located in Iowa City, Iowa, the Oaknoll Retirement Residence offers easy access to several parks, shopping centers and restaurants. The community offers a variety of activities and amenities for resid
… (read more)
Located in Iowa City, Iowa, the Oaknoll Retirement Residence offers easy access to several parks, shopping centers and restaurants. The community offers a variety of activities and amenities for residents, including a heated swimming pool, a 45-seat movie theater, a 24-hour Internet café and coffee shop, as well as classes in the art studio and a small library. Residents and visitors also give accolades to the warm, friendly staff who go above and beyond to make the facility as much like home as possible. The gym and spa are also popular on-site amenities.
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Located in Iowa City, Iowa, the Oaknoll Retirement Residence offers easy access to several parks, shopping centers and restaurants. The community offers a variety of activities and amenities for resid
… (read more)
Located in Iowa City, Iowa, the Oaknoll Retirement Residence offers easy access to several parks, shopping centers and restaurants. The community offers a variety of activities and amenities for residents, including a heated swimming pool, a 45-seat movie theater, a 24-hour Internet café and coffee shop, as well as classes in the art studio and a small library. Residents and visitors also give accolades to the warm, friendly staff who go above and beyond to make the facility as much like home as possible. The gym and spa are also popular on-site amenities.
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My sister went to Briarwood Health Care Center. They can do medication and do the rehabilitation. It is an older facility, but it’s well kept up and it’s bright. The walls are painted. Nothing’s falli
… (read more)
My sister went to Briarwood Health Care Center. They can do medication and do the rehabilitation. It is an older facility, but it’s well kept up and it’s bright. The walls are painted. Nothing’s falling apart. The rooms are kind of institutional, but that’s fine. The staff is very good to my sister. They’re helpful and outgoing. They talk to her, so that’s good.
I know that they have a happy hour, a card club, and arts and crafts. I’ve not had the food myself. It can be institutional style, but it does have flavor and it’s a varying menu. If there’s something that you do not like on the menu, you have options other than getting what they have that day. Instead of having a hamburger, you can have a salad. The staff is always helpful, always congenial, and cordial, and they talk a lot with her.
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My sister went to Briarwood Health Care Center. They can do medication and do the rehabilitation. It is an older facility, but it’s well kept up and it’s bright. The walls are painted. Nothing’s falli
… (read more)
My sister went to Briarwood Health Care Center. They can do medication and do the rehabilitation. It is an older facility, but it’s well kept up and it’s bright. The walls are painted. Nothing’s falling apart. The rooms are kind of institutional, but that’s fine. The staff is very good to my sister. They’re helpful and outgoing. They talk to her, so that’s good.
I know that they have a happy hour, a card club, and arts and crafts. I’ve not had the food myself. It can be institutional style, but it does have flavor and it’s a varying menu. If there’s something that you do not like on the menu, you have options other than getting what they have that day. Instead of having a hamburger, you can have a salad. The staff is always helpful, always congenial, and cordial, and they talk a lot with her.
(read less)
My friend fell out of a wheel chair this morning and NOTHING was done about it!!!! The beds have NO railings for safety. It’s nasty dirty there. I believe the local health department and the Ombuds
… (read more)
My friend fell out of a wheel chair this morning and NOTHING was done about it!!!! The beds have NO railings for safety. It’s nasty dirty there. I believe the local health department and the Ombudsman needs to be called. This is AWFUL!!!!!!
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My friend fell out of a wheel chair this morning and NOTHING was done about it!!!! The beds have NO railings for safety. It’s nasty dirty there. I believe the local health department and the Ombuds
… (read more)
My friend fell out of a wheel chair this morning and NOTHING was done about it!!!! The beds have NO railings for safety. It’s nasty dirty there. I believe the local health department and the Ombudsman needs to be called. This is AWFUL!!!!!!
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My mom is in Windmill Manor for physical therapy. She has been there for 21 days. She has been there twice. The first time was horrible; but this time since Covid she actually enjoyed herself, so it i
… (read more)
My mom is in Windmill Manor for physical therapy. She has been there for 21 days. She has been there twice. The first time was horrible; but this time since Covid she actually enjoyed herself, so it is pretty good. They got a very good physical therapist. I would not say anything good about the food, and I would not say anything about the facility at all. It is probably 30 years old, but it is clean and they have good physical therapists.
The location is okay. It is just on the edge of town, so it is a fair location from Iowa City. It is good for physical therapy. As far as trying to recover, it is just like a nursing home. I cannot really say much about it. There are never enough people, but my whole thing with this has been through Covid. Covid has made everything really difficult. She had a hip replacement, and now they are making sure that she can get to the bathroom. Basically they got all that taken care of. The first one was not very good, but this last one she seemed to like it. It must be okay. It is all being covered by Medicare.
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My mom is in Windmill Manor for physical therapy. She has been there for 21 days. She has been there twice. The first time was horrible; but this time since Covid she actually enjoyed herself, so it i
… (read more)
My mom is in Windmill Manor for physical therapy. She has been there for 21 days. She has been there twice. The first time was horrible; but this time since Covid she actually enjoyed herself, so it is pretty good. They got a very good physical therapist. I would not say anything good about the food, and I would not say anything about the facility at all. It is probably 30 years old, but it is clean and they have good physical therapists.
The location is okay. It is just on the edge of town, so it is a fair location from Iowa City. It is good for physical therapy. As far as trying to recover, it is just like a nursing home. I cannot really say much about it. There are never enough people, but my whole thing with this has been through Covid. Covid has made everything really difficult. She had a hip replacement, and now they are making sure that she can get to the bathroom. Basically they got all that taken care of. The first one was not very good, but this last one she seemed to like it. It must be okay. It is all being covered by Medicare.
(read less)
Nursing Home Costs in Iowa City, Iowa
In Iowa City, nursing home care has an average monthly cost of $6,859 for a semiprivate room and $7,551 for a private room.
The Cost of Nursing Home Care in Nearby Cities
Seniors and their loved ones may be interested to know the costs of nursing home care in nearby cities in comparison to Iowa City. Using the cost of a semiprivate room as a comparative point, the cost of care in Iowa City is less than the national average of $7,756 and slightly more than the Iowa state average of $6,570.
The cost of care is higher in Des Moines ($7,148) and Ames ($7,080) and lower in Sioux City ($6,509) and Davenport ($6,235) than in Iowa City.
The Cost of Other Types of Senior Care
Seniors in Iowa City might be interested in the average monthly costs of senior care options in the city. Adult day care has a monthly average cost of $1,543 making it the cheapest option available. Assisted living has an average charge of $4,106 per month. Both home care and home health care services have an average monthly cost of $5,053. Nursing home care is at the high end of the price scale with a monthly average of $6,859 for a semiprivate room and $7,551 for a private room.
Nursing care (semiprivate room)
Nursing care (private room)
Financial Assistance for Nursing Home Care in Iowa City, Iowa
Many seniors and their families use some form of financial assistance to help them pay for nursing care. The main options available are Medicare, Medicaid, and veterans benefits. These programs can be complicated, especially when it comes to benefit terms. Below, we give a brief overview of how these programs may be used towards paying for skilled nursing care.
- Medicare: Medicare will typically cover all skilled nursing costs for the first 20 days of one’s stay in a nursing home and a portion of the costs until day 100. After 100 days in a skilled nursing facility, Medicare will not cover any part of the cost of the stay. While this is adequate when short-term care is needed, those in need of long-term care will need to either pay out-of-pocket or use another source of financial assistance.
- Medicaid: Medicaid covers most of the costs of living in a skilled nursing facility for those who qualify. Care, room, and board are covered with no time limit, but residents may be charged for extras like specially prepared food or cosmetic services. Medicaid eligibility standards are strict and complex, so not all seniors are eligible for Medicaid benefits.
- Veterans Benefits: Veterans receiving a VA pension may also be eligible for the Aid and Attendance benefit administered by the VA. Aid and Attendance is a monthly allowance that beneficiaries may use to pay for their long-term care, including skilled nursing care.
If these options aren’t available to you, check if your loved one has long-term care insurance or contact your Area Agency on Aging to ask about any local financial assistance programs for seniors.
Free Resources for Seniors in Iowa City, Iowa
These resources may be of interest to seniors who are looking for services that will assist them in aging in place and delaying the move to nursing home care. One of the resources is aimed at helping seniors to understand the state health insurance system and how it may assist them in paying for nursing home care services.
| Resource | Contact | Service |
| SHIIP | (319) 356-5220 | The SHIIP program is funded by the state of Iowa and the federal government. The program provides unbiased and free information to seniors and caregivers on state health insurance plans and other coverage options. The counselors are trained by the state and are not affiliated with any insurance companies. Staff members are able to assist seniors in identifying a plan that meets their health requirements and help them to apply for that plan. In addition, counselors can explain the financial assistance options and benefits available to low-income seniors wanting to move to nursing home care facilities. |
| Trail of Johnson County | (319) 800-9003 | Trails of Johnson County is a nonprofit organization that aims to assist seniors wanting to age in place in their own homes. The program offers a number of services to seniors, including minor home repairs, transportation, grocery shopping, attending medical appointments with seniors to ask questions and take notes and basic outdoor chores. There is an annual fee to join the program but after that, all-volunteer services are provided free of charge. Financial assistance is available for seniors who cannot afford the annual fee. |
| Meals on Wheels | (319) 398-3574 | The Horizons Family Service Alliance runs the Meals on Wheels program in Iowa City. The program provides meals to homebound seniors in the area on a long or short-term basis depending on the senior’s needs. Volunteers deliver hot meals from Monday to Friday as well as frozen meals and breakfast bags for the weekends. Each meal provides a third of the daily nutritional requirements of an adult. Special diets can be accommodated on request. There is a charge for each meal but financial assistance is available for those who cannot afford the fees. |
